Agon Maliqi: Kosovo needs U.S. support, but will not obtain it under the current leadership

Political analyst Agon Maliqi emphasized that Kosovo requires political support from the United States and NATO member states for recognition and for a final agreement with Serbia, but pointed out that such support cannot be secured under the current political course and leadership. He noted that Serbia has been working on a strong positioning in Washington, culminating in Marko Djuric’s visit to the State Department, while Kosovo lacks a unified high-level political agenda.

In a Facebook post, Maliqi stated that Armenia and Azerbaijan yesterday demonstrated maturity by reaching a peace agreement at the White House, despite years of tensions, including the war over Nagorno-Karabakh, adding that this was yet another sign of Moscow’s complete loss of influence, even in its own neighborhood.

“Trump appears to have increased the pace of his engagement in an attempt to present himself as the ‘president of peace,’ and on 15 August, a meeting between Trump and Putin is expected to take place in Alaska (U.S.), where the dominant topic will be Ukraine, but also the possibility of a complete reassessment of U.S.–Russia relations, which also affects their interests in the Balkans,” Maliqi noted.

He pointed out that during this period, Serbia worked on strengthening its position in Washington, culminating in Marko Djuric’s visit to the State Department — the second meeting between a Balkan official and Marco Rubio, following North Macedonia.

Kosovo, on the other hand, Maliqi observed, in the absence of a legitimate government and with a president whose mandate is expiring, has no unified high-level political agenda.

“There is only ongoing cooperation with the Pentagon regarding the Kosovo Security Force, new discussions on joint arms production, and continuity in economic projects such as the one with the MCC. As positive as this may be, it should not be interpreted as any sign of political rapprochement at a high level, but merely as a continuation of U.S. support for Kosovo’s capabilities,” Maliqi stated.

He added that Kosovo needs U.S. political support for recognition — particularly from NATO member states — and for a final agreement with Serbia.

“And Kosovo will not obtain this with the current political course and leadership, which views matters in reverse. In fact, anyone who understands these issues has been warning for years that the price of the populist approach to the north is the international shrinking of Kosovo and handing over our main ally into Belgrade’s hands,” Maliqi concluded.